3.0. Sources of Agricultural Finance 3.1 Preamble Sources of

2.3.2 Formal/Institutional Sources
2.3.2.1 Financial Institutions (Domestic)
Essentially “Financial Institutions “ refer to:
(i) Bank Financial Institutions (BFIs) and
(ii) Non- Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) .
In Nigeria, financial system, there are four categories of Banks which are directly or indirectly
involved and connected to agricultural financing. These are:
(i) Commercial Banks
(ii) Merchant Banks
(iii) Development Banks
(iv) Specialized banks
Note: The Central Bank of Nigeria is the apex of the Nigerian Banking System.
Commercial Banks
Dominates the financial intermediation process and are commonly referred to as ‘retail banks”
due to services extended to farmers as individuals rather to corporate entities. The primary role
of the commercial Banks is to intermediate funds between the surplus and the deficit economic
units of the economy, especially at the retail segment of the markets. The Banks are to
mobilise savings, stimulate investments and economic growth through lending operations,
assist in resource allocation and promote domestic and international trades. Therefore, apart
from the main lending activities of commercial banks, provision of short-term financing, they
also render ancillary services such as keeping save custody of the customers’ valuable items,
acting in trust and execution of capacities for customers’ will.
Merchant Banks
Commonly referred to as the “wholesale banks”, Merchant banks engage in the intermediation
between the surplus and the deficit sector through wholesale banking to large scale
investors/Corporate bodies and Institutional clients by financing medium and long term
credits. They do this through activities like equipment leasing, loan syndication, debt financing
, apart from rendering assistance as issuing agents and advise on funds sourcing.
Development Banks
Micro-finance Banks
Micro-finance Banks in Nigeria are self-sustaining financial institutions owned and
managed by local communities to render services to their respective communities. They are
meant to promote agriculture, rural as well as economic growth through development at
grassroots level. Though their activities are geared towards rural banking, they are also noted
for accepting deposits, running other banking services and investing funds in agriculture apart
from providing facilities to farmers.
Nigerian Agricultural Credit and Rural Development Bank (NACRDB)
In view of the short comings of the Commercial and Merchant banks, the Nigerian
Agricultural Bank Limited was established in 1973 by the federal Government to deal
exclusively with agricultural loans. The bank was established to meet the needs of the national
agricultural credit institutions following regional establishments. The provision for the
establishment of the bank was “knotted in the bud” during the 1st national development plan
period of 1962-1968 but was not implemented until the 2nd period which spanned between
1970 and 1974.
The establishment of this specialized bank was actualized following the acceptance of the
recommendations made in Stoneham’s report and subsequent inclusion in the 1970-1974
Development plan. By the plan, the proposed agricultural cooperative bank which was meant
to operate in all states of the federation, will assist farmers in the area of cooperative farming